There aresporting events held in United Arab Emirates.
While there is no single official "national sport" of the UAE, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is widely recognized as a national sport, particularly due to its state-funded promotion. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) plays a significant role in promoting and developing the sport.[1][2]
The world-prestigiousADCC Submission Fighting World Championship is held in UAE and attract grappling talent from across the world. It has been running since 1998 seeing many nationalities attend and win.
Football is one the most popular sports in the country.[3]
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A one-off motorsport race titled the 1981 Dubai Grand Prix was held at a purpose-built circuit inDeira Corniche.[4] Since 2009, theYas Marina Circuit onYas Island,Abu Dhabi, has held theFormula OneAbu Dhabi Grand Prix, with it being the final round of the season. TheFormula 4 UAE Championship was anFIA sanctioned series that was held since 2016, however has since folded in 2024. Circuits that it was raced at included the Yas Marina Circuit, theDubai Autodrome and finally two rounds outside the country inKuwait.Formula Regional Middle East Championship continues to race at the Dubai and Yas Marina venues.
There are manyendurance races held in the UAE. The24 Hours of Dubai race is held at theDubai Autodrome every year in January, marking the first auto race of the calendar year.[5] Another endurances race held in the Dubai includes theALMS4 Hours of Dubai. Yas Marina Circuit also hosts many endurance races including theALMS4 Hours of Abu Dhabi, the GT endurance raceGulf 12 Hours and the6 Hours of Abu Dhabi which forms part of theMiddle East Trophy.
Notable drivers includeHamda Al Qubaisi and her sisterAmna Al Qubaisi who both formerly raced inF1 Academy,Rashid Al Dhaheri who competes inFRECA andFederico Al Rifai who won the2024 F4 Saudi Arabian Championship.
Dubai is home to theInternational Cricket Council.[6]
BWF's "grassroots" programme, Shuttle Time Dubai, aims to broaden badminton's appeal and raise its profile in the emirate by working with 40 schools on how to teach and engage youth in the sport. The 'BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals' leg was scheduled to be the first time the international tournament is hosted in the Middle East and enables the sport to connect with a whole new region of fans, explains BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer in his interview toVision.[7][8]
Inhabitants ofArab States of the Persian Gulf have practicedcamel racing.[9]Robot jockeys have been used after government regulations were passed prohibiting underage jockeys from racing.[10]
In 2021, an all-female camel racing team is formed.[11]
The cloning industry has been receiving demands from customers wanting to reproduce better racing camels for competitions. Where a female camel may reproduce one calf in every two years, cloning industries have increased this number to an average of 10 to 20 babies every year. Animal rights groups have raised concerns regarding the process which causes the animals providing egg cells and carrying embryos to "undergo undue suffering".[12]
There are places to cycle in Dubai, including Nad Al Sheba Cycle Path, Al Qudra Cycle Path and Jumeirah Open Beach Track.[13] There is a 30 km cycling lane in Dubai's desert. Since 1 October 2019, cyclists risk getting their cycle confiscated if they ride outside of some cycle lanes in the city. Not wearing protective gear can also lead to confiscation of a cycle.[14]
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is an endurance rider.[citation needed] The Dubai Endurance City has practiced the sport and there are endurance yards.[15][16]
The 2013 DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates delivered a US$44 million gross economic benefit to Dubai, according to research commissioned by tournament organisers, The European Tour.[18]
In 2018, new president of theEmirates Ice Hockey League (EHL)Vladimir Burdun was appointed. His role was to strengthenUAE ice hockey team and attract more business opportunities.[19]
In 2019, Burdun announced the goal of entering a team inKontinental Hockey League (KHL) which involved teams fromBelarus,China,Finland,Latvia,Kazakhstan,Russia, andSlovakia by 2021. He also aimed at getting more players ready for KHL. A new ice arena was expected to open inAbu Dhabi, possibly before the end of 2019, with a seating capacity of 17,000[20] and that venue would meet all the requirements of KHL.[21][19] The plan was to replicate the "success" of anNHL team situated in deserts,Vegas Golden Knights. KHL and former NHL players, such asPavel Datsyuk,Sergei Mozyakin,Alexander Ovechkin were mentioned as prospects who might help to increase the future team's competitiveness.[22]
Squash lessons are available from ex-professionals and aDubai Open Squash is even held with a $25,000 cash prize to the winner.[23]
Ping Pong Dubai is a nonprofit community initiative aimed at encouraging people from all walks of life to pick up a bat and play table tennis.[24][25]
Media related toSports in the United Arab Emirates at Wikimedia Commons
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